Adam Gilchrist calls on Al Jazeera to name cricketers accused of spot-fixing in sting

The condemnation and confusion continues to grow over Al Jazeera’s sting documentary accusing England and Australia players of committing acts of spot-fixing in matches against India.

After the first installment of the documentary accused Sri Lanka of being involved in altering pitches to conditions where the wicket would severely deteriorate, the international broadcaster then released further footage on Sunday evening alleging England and Australia cricketers of corrupt activites and censoring the names of those accused.

England captain Joe Root labelled the claims ‘outrageous’ while the ECB released a statement saying the organisation ’emphatically deny the allegations’, and now Australia legend Adam Gilchrist has called on the broadcaster to reveal the names.

“No body, no nation, no team is immune to [spot-fixing] and there’s every chance it’s still going on around the cricketing world. So Australia, or England, or whoever they’re accusing – there’s a chance it could be going on, but if you’re that certain, then name them,” Adam Gilchrist told Back Page Live.

“I refuse to believe – and I’d be disappointed if I was proved otherwise – but England and Australian cricketers are getting paid so much.

“Unless these bookies have got a hook in these guys and they’ve got something over them from some other part in their life that they don’t want exposed, I can’t imagine why they would want to go and do it.”

Recent Comments

Mike Brewer: I enjoyed this piece and anxieties which we all shared about BT taking on this mantle from Sky were short lived as the action unfolded. But you are right about the motormouth commentary, and the worst culprit was Ponting who seems to think that a barrage of overly complicated theories and explanations makes him look like the best captain Australia ever had, neither will ever be true. It was white noise and I longed for the incisive remark that Atherton obviously, and Botham at times surprisingly, casually drops in to punctuate proceedings.
You rightly highlighted deficiencies in Matt Smith's wardrobe. His lack of sartorial co-ordination made him appear scruffy, totally outshone by his ex-playing experts. A bit more Colville, and a little less Corbyn would be my advice to him.
As for the broadcaster there were too many deliveries shown just in the nick of time, or missed altogether... a cardinal sin.
Much like England I am hoping for improvements in Adelaide. View Post